Traded for this beer recently, never having this or anything from Smartmouth before. This was canned on 1/21 so obviously, this wasn't as fresh as I would have liked but it was still a decent beer with a heavier feel to it than the style and amount of alcohol would have led me to believe.

The pour to this was decent as the beer was a hazy apricot with a big head full of big bubbles. Not a lot of lacing was left behind as I worked my way through this and the aroma wasn't terribly strong either. Some pepper, yeast, spice, light citrus, and bread were in the nose and all of these were in the taste as well. Heavy, somewhat slick, and just a bit thick, this went down easily but it didn't have the typical flavor found in a Saison or Farmhouse Ale. The carbonation was light and the alcohol wasn't easily detectable, but the former may have been because of the age or this. Regardless, this wasn't terribly funky and the earthy feel of this wasn't that strong either.

When I finished this off, there was a slight warming effect that I could feel. It would have been great to have a fresher can of this as I feel that there was a lot of potential in this beer. The best aspect of it was the funky design of this as it held my attention for a while. As for the beer, it was relatively easygoing and one of the more accessible examples of this style that I've enjoyed.

Quite the bold Saison we have here. Feigns to be bigger than it actually is, and works for the beer rather than against it. New complexities open up with each taste. A real treat to sip, and we had no problem polishing off the growler. Perhaps Smartmouth should dabble a bit more in the Belgian arena?

Notes via stream of consciousness: Very hazy... perhaps even cloudy, golden amber body beneath a massive head of rocky white that slowly settles. The aroma expresses sweet malt, clove, apple, and banana. The flavor adds in a hint of tartness, a light touch of spiciness, and more fruit (strawberry, lemon, orange). As it warms I'm finding more floral character in the nose, and I see now that the head has dropped to a thin but solid surface covering and is leaving spots of lacing behind. Moderately bitter, the slight tartness and light spiciness help to dry it in the finish. Medium-light in body and delicately crisp. Very nice overall ~ a little sweet, a little tart, very fruity, lightly phenolic and spicy, and moderately bitter. Easy to drink and enjoyable.

A - Nice hazy-orange color. Small head but decent lacing.
S - Mild, citrusy.
T - Light, easy-drinking beer with more going on than you may first realize. Very refreshing. Well-balanced and not overly carbonated.
M - A bit light, but gets better as you drink.
O - A nice beer. Well done for Smartmouth's first offerring.